New Delhi: Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a special session of Parliament to demonstrate the nation’s collective resolve in responding to the terror attack in Pahalgam.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on Monday evening, Kharge emphasized the importance of national unity during such critical times. “At this moment, when unity and solidarity are essential, the Opposition believes it is important to convene a special session of both Houses of Parliament at the earliest,” Kharge wrote.
“This will be a powerful demonstration of our collective will to address the brutal terror attack on innocent citizens in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. It is our sincere hope that such a session will be convened without delay,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi, in a separate letter to the Prime Minister, echoed similar sentiments. “The terrorist attack in Pahalgam has outraged every Indian. At this critical time, India must show that we will always stand united against terrorism. The Opposition believes a special session of both Houses should be convened so that the representatives of the people can affirm their unity and determination. We urge that this be done at the earliest,” Gandhi wrote.

The Congress party’s communications department released both letters publicly on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, on April 24, the government held an all-party meeting where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau and Home Ministry briefed parliamentary leaders on the attack. During the meeting, Singh assured that the government is “committed” to taking “strong actions” in response to the killing of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. While Opposition leaders raised concerns about the security lapse, they expressed support for decisive government action, signaling rare national unity in the face of the deadliest civilian terror attack in decades.

Notably, Kharge and Gandhi’s letters came just hours after the Congress chief publicly criticized the Prime Minister for skipping the all-party meeting. Speaking at a rally in Rajasthan, Kharge remarked, “Modi prioritised an election rally in Bihar over the country. At the very least, he should have attended the meeting where we offered unconditional support for any action the government wished to take.”